Spain, What Do You Expect?
Jan 19th 2010, 7:21 pm
#16
Banned
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,008
Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
I think most things have been or will be said by others, but two points
1. I still find it abhorrent ... haven't checked the definition, but certainly inexcusable, unforgivable, ignorant, you name it... that people can live here for years & consider it acceptable not to learn anything other than a few words. I am very far from fluent but believe my neighbours would think I could converse (given that one just asked another for my phone number!! all innocent, I assure you. Land. !!)
2. Given that I was the first in another thread to mention things being expensive, I'd like to say I don't socialise very often at all. Try buying kids' shoes - Asda & Tesco can lop about 30% or more off the average supermarket price here. Or pencils, or towels, or a multitude of other houseware bits & bobs. Or ladies' clothes. Or men's, or kids'..... need I go on. Frankly I'd say socialising was cheaper! (or maybe that's because I'm a cheap date
)
1. I still find it abhorrent ... haven't checked the definition, but certainly inexcusable, unforgivable, ignorant, you name it... that people can live here for years & consider it acceptable not to learn anything other than a few words. I am very far from fluent but believe my neighbours would think I could converse (given that one just asked another for my phone number!! all innocent, I assure you. Land. !!)
2. Given that I was the first in another thread to mention things being expensive, I'd like to say I don't socialise very often at all. Try buying kids' shoes - Asda & Tesco can lop about 30% or more off the average supermarket price here. Or pencils, or towels, or a multitude of other houseware bits & bobs. Or ladies' clothes. Or men's, or kids'..... need I go on. Frankly I'd say socialising was cheaper! (or maybe that's because I'm a cheap date
)How cheap?????????
Jan 19th 2010, 7:40 pm
#17
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: near Colmenar, Prov de Malaga
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Jan 19th 2010, 7:45 pm
#18
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,368
Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
2. Given that I was the first in another thread to mention things being expensive, I'd like to say I don't socialise very often at all. Try buying kids' shoes - Asda & Tesco can lop about 30% or more off the average supermarket price here. Or pencils, or towels, or a multitude of other houseware bits & bobs. Or ladies' clothes. Or men's, or kids'..... need I go on. Frankly I'd say socialising was cheaper! (or maybe that's because I'm a cheap date)
)
Jan 19th 2010, 8:41 pm
#19
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2009
Location: Alicante province
Posts: 5,753
Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
When I first came over 20 years ago, I expected to become very rich in as short as possible a time. That didn’t work out, and I went home for a couple of times to re-think, not for long, and then it was all systems go again, but with fewer ambitions to become rich.
13 years ago, I decided to stop going home and concentrated on enjoying life in Spain, without any further attempts to run a business here. And that’s how it is now, luckily I still have a decent English income and it’s enough to live on, quite happily, though modestly.
I made an effort to learn the language before I came and during my stay here, but I still have to get the dictionary out at times. Today I found out the difference between Perrito and Perito, the latter is an insurance assessor. And the Perito has checked La Luna, not the moon but my car windscreen.
You never stop learning in life, do you?
13 years ago, I decided to stop going home and concentrated on enjoying life in Spain, without any further attempts to run a business here. And that’s how it is now, luckily I still have a decent English income and it’s enough to live on, quite happily, though modestly.
I made an effort to learn the language before I came and during my stay here, but I still have to get the dictionary out at times. Today I found out the difference between Perrito and Perito, the latter is an insurance assessor. And the Perito has checked La Luna, not the moon but my car windscreen.
You never stop learning in life, do you?
Jan 19th 2010, 9:37 pm
#20
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Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Chiclana
Posts: 3,327
Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
The thing is why shouldn´t you have a moan. If you were in the UK you would moan about certain things so now you are living in Spain you are not allowed to moan about anything Spanish. Balls, I love living here but there are things I want to moan about just as I would moan about different things in the UK. My present moan is the bloody pot holes at the bottom of my road whilst the Council are laying artificial grass on the entrance to the town. I have always said there is good and bad in every country and every nationality.
Jan 20th 2010, 4:00 am
#21
¿Dónde estoy?
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: my paradise - Jávea
Posts: 13,330
Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
The thing is why shouldn´t you have a moan. If you were in the UK you would moan about certain things so now you are living in Spain you are not allowed to moan about anything Spanish. Balls, I love living here but there are things I want to moan about just as I would moan about different things in the UK. My present moan is the bloody pot holes at the bottom of my road whilst the Council are laying artificial grass on the entrance to the town. I have always said there is good and bad in every country and every nationality.
just because we prefer to live here doesn't mean we wear rose-tinted glasses & think it's perfect
why lay artificial grass
Jan 20th 2010, 6:56 am
#22
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Jan 20th 2010, 7:54 am
#23
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,368
Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
Ditto. I can't believe that those complaining about moaners don't ever have a moan themselves. Is everything that perfect in Spain? Not from what I read, the Spanish themselves are the biggest moaners around, but I guess that's different. Reading recently about Spain taking over the presidency of EU, nearly all the comments were of the "ZP has f----d up Spain, he'll probably do the same to Europe" type of comment. Reading what the Spanish themselves write about Spain will dispel any myths about it being perfect, but if a few Brit immigrants find it perfect, I guess they should consider themselves very lucky.
Jan 20th 2010, 8:07 am
#24
Banned
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 699
Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
Personally what I read is criticism.
I read/member of most of the Spanish and Italian forums on the net, some Spanish forums too and there is a pattern of complaint.
I prefer to read the hassle of someone in the Spanish community than a person who spends all day in their villa/pueblo.
Someone with a family living and working in Spain is going to have far more experience of Spanish culture than a person not working.
I read/member of most of the Spanish and Italian forums on the net, some Spanish forums too and there is a pattern of complaint.
I prefer to read the hassle of someone in the Spanish community than a person who spends all day in their villa/pueblo.
Someone with a family living and working in Spain is going to have far more experience of Spanish culture than a person not working.
Jan 20th 2010, 8:43 am
#25
¿Dónde estoy?
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: my paradise - Jávea
Posts: 13,330
Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
Personally what I read is criticism.
I read/member of most of the Spanish and Italian forums on the net, some Spanish forums too and there is a pattern of complaint.
I prefer to read the hassle of someone in the Spanish community than a person who spends all day in their villa/pueblo.
Someone with a family living and working in Spain is going to have far more experience of Spanish culture than a person not working.
I read/member of most of the Spanish and Italian forums on the net, some Spanish forums too and there is a pattern of complaint.
I prefer to read the hassle of someone in the Spanish community than a person who spends all day in their villa/pueblo.
Someone with a family living and working in Spain is going to have far more experience of Spanish culture than a person not working.
and me
Jan 20th 2010, 9:33 am
#26
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 226
Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
[QUOTE=chulo;8265257]Personally what I read is criticism.
Check out the Canadian forum if you want moaners.
Check out the Canadian forum if you want moaners.
Jan 20th 2010, 12:02 pm
#27
RETIRED ;-))
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Location: Benalmadena Pueblo,Spain
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Jan 20th 2010, 12:04 pm
#28
¿Dónde estoy?
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: my paradise - Jávea
Posts: 13,330
Jan 20th 2010, 12:21 pm
#30
Banned
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 699
Re: Spain, What Do You Expect?
And I value both your comments on Spain, when you write them.
It is the other content I have issue with.
It is the other content I have issue with.